State Budget 2018: Kellyville, Baulkham hill, Castle Hill, Dural schools could miss out on State Government airconditioning scheme
LUCK of the draw is all it will take for thousands of students to be able to beat the heat in airconditioned classrooms across the Hills this summer — or continue to swelter.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LUCK of the draw is all it will take for thousands of students to be able to beat the heat in airconditioned classrooms across the Hills this summer — or continue to swelter.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and local state Liberal representatives announced a cash splash to send a cool $500 million into school budgets for airconditioning in this week’s state budget.
●$500m for school airconditioning
● Airconditioning a ‘hot topic’ for government
Under the scheme, all planned major school upgrades across the state will see the introduction of airconditioning to classrooms, meaning projects at North Rocks Public School, Excelsior Public School and Samuel Gilbert Public School will experience a big chill in once ‘boiling’ learning spaces.
While new schools at Bella Vista and North Kellyville New Primary School will also benefit.
However, the majority of schools across the Hills will not receive funding — because the average temperature of each suburb does not reach or exceed a scorching 30 degrees during January, according to Riverstone Labor candidate Dr Annemarie Christie.
“The government made a stipulation to say that suburbs must reach or exceed an average temperature of 30 degrees in January to receive airconditioning,” Cr Christie told the Times.
“If the politicians in their airconditioned offices came out and worked in an un-airconditioned classroom in The Ponds, they might understand the conditions our kids and teachers are working in.”
Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott said the level of investment in local schools, “was something to be proud of”.
“It is through the strong economic management of the NSW Liberal Government that we are in a position to deliver this record investment for NSW students,” Mr Elliott said.
“It is something that the Labor Party could never have achieved.”
While Education Minister Rob Stokes said the government would ensure students have the best possible environment for learning.
However, the majority of schools in suburbs including The Ponds, Kellyville, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Bella Vista, Dural, Kenthurst will, most likely, not receive funding for airconditioning under the scheme — due to the average January temperates reaching 29 degrees.
Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams failed to respond to questions before deadline.
Suburbs highest average temperature in January :
THE PONDS — 29
ROUSE HILL — 29
KELLVILLE — 29
BAULKHAM HILLS — 29
BEAUMONT HILLS — 29
BOX HILL — 29
CASTLE HILL — 28
BELLA VISTA — 29
DURAL — 27
KENTHURST — 28
SCHOFIELDS — 29
RIVERSTONE — 30